dating back to their entry into the practicearea in the 1980s, when New Jersey’s liberal-leaning courts helped fuel a groundswell ofsuits involving discrimination based on age,race, gender, sexual orientation or disabilities.

Smith, the youngest of three childrenand the only girl, grew up happy in Keyport.

From the beginning, she liked people.And they liked her back. In eighth grade,she was elected president of the studentcouncil. In high school, she was captain ofthe cheerleading team.Her father, Jack Smith, was a vivaciousIrishman, a bartender who opened a liquorstore. He died when Smith was 15. Hermother, Madeline Parry, was deeply religious,determined and had a bright personality.

“My mom had an eighth-gradeeducation and she ran that liquor store,”Smith recalls.

Smith considers herself blessed.That is due, in part, to getting a quality,affordable education at state schools.Smith wasn’t born with a silver spoon.She polished them as a waitress, earningenough money to pay tuition and keep aroof over her head.

“I am a product of government, ofeveryone pulling together to lift peopleup,” she says.Smith earned her social work degree atMontclair State University, and applied toRutgers School of Law in Newark at theurging of a classmate.

“We were the lefties in class,” sherecalls. “He said, ‘If you want to change theworld, become a lawyer.’”Smith was just 25 and eight monthspregnant when she got her first bigcase, Slohoda v. United Parcel Service.Her client, Jon Slohoda, was a marriedUPS employee who was fired forcohabitating with a co-worker who wasnot his wife. Smith threw a punch no oneexpected—she argued that Slohoda wasdiscriminated against on the basis ofhis marital status. If he wasn’t married,she maintained, he could not have beenterminated for adultery.

Smith lost in summary judgment, but wona plea for a retrial. “We tried it and the judge